Moving Up: The Case of Lawyer Jim

In "Moving Up: The Challenges of Communicating a New Social Class Identity", we are introduced to two people, Jim and Marc. Jim is currently a new lawyer at a prestigious law firm, but hails from a working class background; he is "the only big shot his family's got" according to his uncle. Because of his background, Jim has developed working class ideals; he prefers practicality over price, only spending what he needs to, and has always considered himself among working class folk. 

"The challenges of communicating a new social class identity" arise when Jim meets with the firm's head lawyer (Marc) on a Monday for his sixty-day performance review. Marc informs Jim that his ability to perform tasks as a lawyer is exceptional, but that his image as a lawyer needs some significant improvement, as it does not reflect the firm’s prestige, but a working class background. Marc doesn’t want to see cheap suits, watches, cars, or Jim not going out to lunch with other lawyers, but the opposite. Jim leaves the meeting taken aback, but understanding and willing to make some changes toward his image.

            Throughout the rest of the week Jim is consumed with satisfying Marc’s demands for a new image, even putting his work for the firm aside to meet them. He complies by buying more expensive attire, going out to Sushi bars with his co-workers, and even questioning his old Chevy…maybe a Benz? By Friday Jim is excited about the changes he has put forth the effort in making, when Marc suddenly demands Jim to no longer assist or establish rapport with secretaries at the firm, or anyone else who Marc considers “little people” (people of the working class background). Unlike Marc’s previous requests for image change, this does not suit well with Jim.

            The case concludes with this: “How could he prove to his boss that he is cut out to be an attorney? And how could he reassure his parents that he is the same old Jimmy?”

            Until Friday I, like Jim, understood Marc’s requests for change. No matter what context, the saying “image is everything” holds true. It is unsuitable to appear at a high status law firm as a lawyer in JC Penny boxed suits, just as it would be unsuitable to show up for work at an assembly line in an expensive suit. I agree with Marc that Jim must reevaluate the way he dresses, talks in certain situations, and possibly even the car he drives, for both the benefit of the firm, and for his own benefit…when he is no longer “new” and dealing with even more prestigious clients, which lawyer will these clients desire, the one pullin’ up to work in a Porsche, or the one pullin’ up to work in a Pinto? And although Jim seemed surprised to hear Marc’s suggestions on Monday, I’m sure there had to have been some point throughout his law schooling when he realized his working class identity would be addressed at some future point.

I was very impressed with Jim’s willingness to make a few changes toward his identity as a lawyer for two reasons, the first being his lack of resistance to change. Jim seems to embrace the idea of something different as he thinks to himself “If this is what is needed to be successful, then maybe I could try dressing a little differently…a couple new suits might actually be a good thing.” Second, by making most of the changes Marc asks of him, Jim strategically puts Marc in a position where if he continues to ask Jim to reshape his image, he might appear too demanding, which could hurt Marc’s image. It is Jim’s ease in “trying something new” that will give him advantage later on, whether it be at the law firm or not.

The day when Marc does become too demanding suddenly arrives for Jim; in the same week Marc laid out his initial requests. On Friday, Marc suddenly calls Jim into his office and orders him not to help or assist the working class (that is the secretaries, custodial staff, etc.) in the building, for they are simply “little people” in the law office, not a part of the firm. This creates an immediate internal conflict with Jim, as he believes Marc is now going too far…after all, Jim entire family is “little people”.

While I didn’t mind Marc’s initial requests for Jim, I completely understand Jim’s hesitance to begin viewing other people in the office as “lower” than him…is it even possible for Jim to suddenly “begin” viewing people as something he previously did not? However because Marc is his boss and wants Jim to do this, Houston we have a conflict. So how can Jim solve it?

My suggestions for Jim are simple, at least in words. If I were him I would schedule a meeting with Marc, and first praise him for acknowledging that I needed to make a few image changes as a lawyer, that the changes turned out to be good for me, despite the fact they consumed my entire week (and I’m now behind on work). After hearing him congratulate himself, I would then begin telling him about how I came to be a lawyer, about my family, perhaps the determination my working class mother instilled in me throughout my life, and that if it wasn’t for the lessons I learned from working class folks I wouldn’t be sitting in a prestigious law firm. My objective here would be to develop within Marc a liking, a respect for my mother, and ultimately a respect for working class people. It would be my hope that because I was so open to his suggestions, Marc would be open to my suggestions, open to my refusal to ignore secretaries and custodians, to not recognize them as people.

Marc’s reaction to this of course will determine Jim’s next step at the firm. If Marc is in fact receptive, understanding, and willing to make a change of his own, then Jim might just get along great. However if Marc could care less what Jim’s mother instilled in him, Jim should probably reconsider working for a “high status law firm”, or at least this one. With Jim’s exceptional law school record, bank of knowledge, and writing ability he is sure to find lawyer work elsewhere. And even if he doesn’t, his dad has a position ready for him “down at the garage”.